Efforts to Ban Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers in Pennsylvania
Cities and Towns Where Pennsylvania Residents Have Tried to Get a Ban on Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers
Lower Merion Philadelphia Cheltenham Radnor Upper Providence Swarthmore Radnor Haverford Narberth Media Newtown Township Solebury Township
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As more people are learning about the harmful effects of gas-powered leaf blowers, communities across Pennsylvania are working to get legislation passed for bans. Find updates on their progress and learn how you can help at the following websites and read articles about local initiatives.
Quiet Clean Lower Merion created a successful campaign demonstrating the harms of gas-powered leaf blowers that led to the first ban in Pennsylvania.
Article: November 21, 2025: Lower Merion is banning gas-powered leaf blowers. Here’s what to know.
Quiet Clean Philly is working toward getting a ban in Philadelphia.
Article: April 1, 2025 As Philly council mulls gas leaf blower ban, lawn equipment companies strut their battery-powered stuff
Quiet Clean Cheltenham is a Facebook group interested in exploring the reduction of noise and air pollution, in Cheltenham Township, by reducing the use of Gasoline-Powered Leaf Blowers (GPLBs).
Radnor Township
Radnor Environmental Action Council (EAC)
The Radnor EAC is presenting a proposal to the Radnor Board of Commissioners on February 23. (Delayed due to snow.) An evening Town Hall is scheduled for April 7 to hear from the public about the proposed ban (residents first, businesses second) and a second Town Hall on April 23rd (businesses first). If there are no complications, the Board of Commissioners will vote on the proposal in June. Its patterned exactly after the Lower Merion phase-in ban.
Article: January 21, 2026 Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers Could Be Banned In Radnor Township
Upper Providence Township is exploring a ban. This was recently posted on their township website: Gas-Powered leaf Blowers: Community Health & Practical Alternatives
Article : June 19, 2024 Swarthmore Almost Had the First Gas Leaf Blower Ban in Pennsylvania
Narberth recently worked to get a ban passed, but put it on hold. learn about their progress and setbacks here:
October 13, 2025 Narberth EAC approves memo advising Public Health & Safety to pursue phase‑out of gas‑powered leaf blowers
Nov 10, 2025 Narberth council weighs leaf‑blower ban and leans to mirror Lower Merion
Dec 11, 2025 Narberth committee recommends pausing action on gas-powered leaf-blower ordinance, citing litigation concerns
Borough of Media
The Media EAC had advised the Media Borough Council on the dangers of gas-powered leaf blowers and proposed that Council write an ordinance restricting their use in the Borough.
October 17, 2024 Gas Powered Leaf Blowers - An Unnecessary Health Hazard
On November 21, 2024 Media Borough approved Ordinance 1168 to restrict the use of combustion-powered leaf blowers from sunset to 9 am on weekdays during the school year (Sept. 1 to June 30).
After numerous members of the public provided comment via email and in-person the Council was alerted to the fact that in order to enforce this law, the neighbors would need to call the police between 8am-8:30 of the enforcement time (due to the Borough Office being closed until 8:30). Officers would then need to attend the Magisterial District Court hearings for these violations and the Borough would incur overtime costs as well.
The Media Borough Council tabled the ordinance just before it was to take effect.
New group in Media: Transition Town Greater Media Partnership This group began as a Media EAC project and has now evolved into a TTGM Biodiversity Group project. Our concern is with the toxicity of the exhaust fumes from this equipment and their detrimental effect on the health of our ecosystems.
Newtown Township
Article: November 14, 2024 Newtown Residents Ask Township To Consider Leaf Blower Ordinance
Solebury Township
Article: July 24, 2025 Solebury considering restrictions on gas-powered leaf blowers